<h4>Community Payback - the Unpaid Work sentence</h4>

<h4>Paying back to the community</h4>

You have been sentenced to unpaid work as part of a community order or suspended sentence order. The Probation Service will arrange work for you which benefits others. This is your opportunity to repay the community for your offences. For this reason the work you will do is also known as Community Payback. You must wear an orange Community Payback jacket on work sites. This is so that the public know when and where Community Payback work is being done.


<h4>About Community Payback</h4>

We will tell you about Community Payback work which is suitable for you in your area.  We won’t ask you to do anything that you can’t manage. We will explain what we expect of you and when and where you will work.  
<br/><br/>
If you are in full-time work, education or training, you will have to do Community Payback work for a minimum of six hours each week. This will usually take place on one day at weekends if you work during the week. If you are unemployed you may have to work for four days a week.
<br/><br/>
Community Payback is about making amends. Members of the public can suggest work which will improve local areas. We may tell the public where Community Payback work is taking place. It is important that you behave well, work hard and follow instructions. You could be working on sites which are well known to people in the area.
<br/><br/>
This is demanding work which could include:<br/>
 
&#8226; graffiti removal<br/>
&#8226; street clean-ups<br/>
&#8226; ground clearance and landscaping<br/>
&#8226; repainting<br/>
&#8226; improvements to parks and other community facilities<br/>
&#8226; work for local charities<br/>


<h4>How can I make the most of my sentence?</h4>

Community Payback is a punishment, but it is also a chance for you to learn new skills. To complete your hours quickly and to gain the most from your sentence you must:<br/>

&#8226; Turn up on time. If you are late, you may not be able to work and you risk breaching your order.<br/>
&#8226; Be sure you are fit for work and in suitable clothes.<br/>
&#8226; If told, bring food, water or a soft drink with you.<br/>
&#8226; Listen carefully and follow instructions. We will tell you how to use any tools or other equipment and give you health and safety instructions. You must follow these instructions at all times.<br/>
&#8226; Behave sensibly and be polite to other people doing Community Payback and members of the public.<br/>
&#8226; Tell staff if you do not understand an instruction.<br/>
&#8226; Tell staff in advance if you think you may be unable to do any sessions.<br/>
&#8226; If you miss a work session, telephone and explain why as soon as possible. We may ask you for evidence, such as a doctor’s note.<br/>
&#8226; Tell staff before changing your address or telephone number.

<br/><br/>
Some of your Community Payback hours can be used for education or training to improve your job prospects.


<h4>What happens if you break the rules or fail to attend?</h4>

Speak to a member of staff if you are having problems which prevent you doing your Community Payback sentence. We will try to help you complete your hours.  
<br/><br/>
If you do not turn up for Community Payback work without a good reason, or break the rules, we will give you a warning or breach your order. You can only have one warning in any 12 months.
<br/><br/>
If you breach your order, the court could give you more Community Payback hours, or end your order and impose a different sentence in its place.
